Cats first in state to win back-to-back MaxPreps honor

Wednesday

Jan 29, 2014 at 12:01 AM

By Bill Althausbill.althaus@examiner.net

Ian Brown, the junior quarterback who played a key role in Blue Springs High School's Class 6 state championship ride, was able to take part in his first ever MaxPreps Tour of Champions Award ceremony at halftime Tuesday night of the Wildcats’ boys basketball game against Lee’s Summit.

The 14-0 Wildcats became the first metro area squad to win back-to-back big class titles and are the first team from Missouri to win back-to-back MaxPreps Award recognition, which is presented by the Army National Guard.

“I like this,” Brown, sporting an ear-to-ear grin, said as he joined his teammates at center court for the award ceremony. “This is really special for me, because I wasn't here last year when they won the first state championship and the first MaxPreps Award.

“This is the kind of thing a little kid playing Pop Warner or pee-wee league football dreams about. Who knows, maybe we can do it again next year.”

MaxPreps representative Kyle Oberweather praised the Wildcats for a historic season and No. 11 national ranking in the MaxPreps national poll.

“This is the eighth year for the MaxPreps Award, and I know they are the first team to win it back-to-back in Missouri,” Oberweather said. “We had a team do it in Arkansas, but I believe they are the only other to win it back-to-back. This is a very special Blue Springs football team.”

Donohoe backed that statement as he spoke to fans who attended the ceremony and the game.

“I am so lucky to be a part of the best high school in the state,” Donohoe said. “We have a traditional saying here: 'Win at everything we do.' And I think this team exemplifies that motto. Academically, clubs, music, sports – we get to deal on a daily basis with the best of the best.

“And I can't thank my coaches, our administration and our fans enough for helping us receive this great honor from MaxPreps.”

Two-time Simone Award winning running back Dalvin Warmack said the second honor might be a bit more special than the first.

“Getting accolades like this from MaxPreps for two years in a row is just unbelievable,” Warmack said. “We want to win at everything we do, and our football team has been able to live up to that motto the past two years.

“MaxPreps, the Army National Guard – it doesn't get much better than this, especially for the second time in two years.”